Forbidden City, Imperial Architecture

This part will provide you with detailed information about different kinds of Chinese  architecture, including the related culture and background knowledge. Chinese ancient architecture has its own unique style in the world architecture. It uses different structural materials which include civil construction, brick work, timber construction and bamboo construction. There are various architecture styles such as palace, tower, temple, garden and mausoleum which can be generally grouped into imperial architecture, religious architecture, garden architecture and general architecture.

 Imperial Architecture: 
Here you will get to know Chinese imperial architecture, including imperial palaces, gardens and mausoleums. In order to incarnate the supremacy of imperial power, Chinese imperial architecture often adopt the layout of an axial symmetry, with the  buildings on the central axis tall and splendid while the rest rather small and simple.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Buddhist Architecture

Religious Architecture
Religious architecture in China has an added Chinese flavor to it. Different religions have their unique architectural styles.
 Buddhist Architecture
 Taoist  Architecture
 Chinese Temples
Buddhist Temples       
Confucius Temples
 Islam Mosques           
Taoist Temples

 Garden Architecture
Chinese gardens are famous for their variety and delicate craftwork. This part will not only present you different kinds of beautiful Chinese gardens, but you will also be impressed at the unique constructional idea and methods of Chinese laboring people.

Lingering Garden, Suzhou

General Architecture 
In this part, you will get to know the general information of the architecture that Chinese common people live in. The 56 ethnic groups have weaved a colorful Chinese civilian residence picture. In northern part of Shaanxi Province, people prefer to live in Farmer's House (Yao Dong). In Yunnan Province, local people build Seal-like Compound (Yi ke yin) to dwell in, and in the west of Fujian Province, Hakkas create the Earthen Buildings which is considered to be built with a wondrous architectural style. No matter what kind of architectural style they belong to, they are all the Major Styles of Traditional Chinese Residences .